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W E Ruebush Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

W E Ruebush Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$92k
Granted FY2024still arriving
24
Grants FY2024still arriving
11
States reached
$12k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$546kHuman Services$3k
02FY2024 · 24 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k23 grants · $80k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $12k
$3,000
Median grant
11
States reached
$1.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA$12,000
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA$6,000
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY$6,000
ELLSWORTH COMMUNITY COLLEGE$6,000
WARTBURG COLLEGE$6,000
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA$3,000
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA$3,000
TOWSON UNIVERSITY$3,000
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY$3,000
FAITH BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE$3,000
SPRING HILL COLLEGE$3,000
HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE$3,000
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY$3,000
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY$3,000
TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY$3,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY19–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 41% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 12%MIDLAND UNIVERSITY: $3k → 11%UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO: $3k → 16%SWARTHMORE COLLEGE: $3k → 10%BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY: $4k → 11%IONA UNIVERSITY: $3k → 9%COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: $3k → 17%FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: $4k → 28%THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA: $3k → 14%UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA: $3k → 14%UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA: $3k → 16%FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: $6k → 19%WARTBURG COLLEGE: $6k → 7%NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE: $4k → 8%CENTRAL COLLEGE: $3k → 8%COE COLLEGE: $2k → 9%LUTHER COLLEGE: $9k → 10%WALDORF UNIVERSITY: $4k → 10%BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY: $3k → 10%DMACC: $3k → 10%ELLSWORTH COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $6k → 11%UNIVERSITY OF IOWA: $6k → 15%THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA: $3k → 17%HUNTINGDON COLLEGE: $3k → 18%SPRING HILL COLLEGE: $3k → 19%RHODES COLLEGE: $4k → 17%TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY: $3k → 17%GRACE COLLEGE & SEMINARY: $4k → 11%LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS: $3k → 23%TOWSON UNIVERSITY: $3k → 11%WARTBURG COLLEGE: $4k → 7%KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $4k → 9%FAITH BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE: $3k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ID
MN
IL
NY
IA
IN
OH
PA
NE
MO
MD
KS
TN
NC
DC
LA
AL
GA
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

84%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$454k · 29 repeat orgs$89k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +18% since the first grant, against +17% for those funded once.

29 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2024, 17 since wound down; 11 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

29
17

Total granted

$454k
$56k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+18%
+17%

Still filing today

69%
41%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 63% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $33k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • FU
    Fordham University
    3× · 2017–2020 · $12k · revenue +47%
  • Bucknell University
    3× · 2019–2021 · $12k · revenue +24%
  • NC
    NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE
    3× · 2019–2021 · $12k · revenue +42%

Funded once

  • WS
    WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2020 · $6k
  • KC
    KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
    one grant, 2019 · $4k
  • HC
    HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
    one grant, 2017 · $4k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Lehigh University

The university's goal in the coming decade is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research and service to others. the core of this goal is to prepare graduates to engage with the world and lead lives of meaning. to do…

Education
2
Augustana University Association

Inspired by lutheran scholarly tradition and the liberal arts, augustana provides an education of enduring worth that challenges the intellect, fosters integrity and integrates faith with learning and service in a diverse world.

Education
3
St Marys University of Minnesota

Enriched by the lasallian catholic heritage, saint mary's university of minnesota awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership.

Education
4
Saint Xavier University

Saint xavier university, a catholic institution inspired by the heritage of the sisters of mercy, educates persons to search for truth, think critically, communicate effectively and serve wisely and compassionately in support of human…

Education
5
California Lutheran University

The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.

Education
6
Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the reformed christian perspective, dordt university equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary…

Education
7
LaGrange College

Education - lagrange college challenges the minds and inspires the souls of its students. founded in 1831 and committed to its relationship with the united methodist church and its wesleyan and liberal arts traditions, the college supports…

Education
8
Union College

Union college is a seventh-day adventist community of higher education, inspired by jesus christ, and dedicated to empowering students to learn, serve, and lead.

Education
9
Xavier University

Xavier is a jesuit catholic university rooted in the liberal arts tradition. our mission is to educate each student intellectually, morally, and spiritually. we create learning opportunities through rigorous academic and professional…

Education
10
Walsh University Inc

Walsh university is an independent, coeducational catholic, liberal arts and sciences institution dedicated to educating its students to become leaders in service to others through a values-based education with an international perspective…

Education
11
Albright College

As a diverse community of learners, we cultivate integrity, curiosity, connection and resilience.

Education
12
John Brown University

John brown university (jbu) provides christ-centered education that prepares students to honor god and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. (continued on schedule o)jbu serves traditional…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Illinois Wesleyan University; the most unlike its peers is Coe College. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

34 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 34 of the 58 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
34/34
Grantees still filing
26/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA: $83,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWAUNIVERSITY OF IOWA: $79,500 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF IOWAUNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: $19,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDAFLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY: $18,500 · OtherFLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITYIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY: $12,000 · OtherTOWSON UNIVERSITY: $12,000 · OtherWALDORF UNIVERSITY: $12,000 · Other+20 more: $84,000 · Other+20 moreWARTBURG COLLEGE: $27,000 · EducationWARTBURG COLLEGELUTHER COLLEGE: $22,000 · EducationLUTHER COLLEGEFordham University: $12,000 · EducationBucknell University: $12,000 · EducationNORTHWESTERN COLLEGE: $12,000 · EducationRhodes College: $12,000 · EducationSPRING HILL COLLEGE: $10,589 · EducationCOE COLLEGE: $10,500 · EducationBRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY: $9,000 · EducationLOYOLA UNIVERSITY: $9,000 · EducationWINGATE UNIVERSITY: $9,000 · EducationGrace Schools: $8,000 · Education+19 more: $75,500 · Education+19 more
Other$320,000Education$228,589

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWARTBURG COLLEGE: $27,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetLUTHER COLLEGE: $22,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFordham University: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBucknell University: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWESTERN COLLEGE: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetRhodes College: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSPRING HILL COLLEGE: $10,589 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOE COLLEGE: $10,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetBRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLOYOLA UNIVERSITY: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWINGATE UNIVERSITY: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetALLEN COLLEGE: $8,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGrace Schools: $8,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetST THOMAS UNIVERSITY INC: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSWARTHMORE COLLEGE: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Mount Union: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHUNTINGDON COLLEGE: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLORAS COLLEGE: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTUSCULUM UNIVERSITY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMIDLAND UNIVERSITY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFaith Baptist Bible College: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAINT LEO UNIVERSITY INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBuena Vista University: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetIONA UNIVERSITY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTRAL COLLEGE: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetClarke University of Dubuque Iowa: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of St Thomas: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds WARTBURG COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds LUTHER COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Fordham University ↗
  • Who funds Bucknell University ↗
  • Who funds NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Rhodes College ↗
  • Who funds SPRING HILL COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds COE COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds LOYOLA UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds WINGATE UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds ALLEN COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Grace Schools ↗
  • Who funds ST THOMAS UNIVERSITY INC ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE ↗
  • Who funds SWARTHMORE COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK ↗
  • Who funds University of Mount Union ↗
  • Who funds ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds HUNTINGDON COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds LORAS COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds MIDLAND UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds Faith Baptist Bible College ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Fahrney Education Fdt…Council of Independen…Folds of Honor Founda…Roy J Carver Charitab…Willard E and Ella P …Bestenlehner D and F …Iowa College Foundati…Pella Rolscreen Found…National Collegiate A…The Blackbaud Giving …Tulsa Community Found…Mahana-Cong Church Sc…
Fahrney Education Fdtn TrustWI22.1× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Fahrney Education Fdtn Trust · Council of Independent Colleges · Folds of Honor Foundation · Roy J Carver Charitable Trust · Willard E and Ella P Thompson Educational Fund · Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr · Iowa College Foundation · Pella Rolscreen Foundation · National Collegiate Athletic Association · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Tulsa Community Foundation · Mahana-Cong Church Scholar Found

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization W E Ruebush Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from W E Ruebush Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2025
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • St Thomas University Inc: 1% of income from government
  • Saint Leo University Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 58 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on W E Ruebush’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home